At What Age did you Do WDW without a stroller?

[bean]

We usually go to WDW about 3 times a year (APs). We usually stay at Shades of Green and if we're going to MK we walk from SOG to the Poly to catch the monorail. So that throws in a bit of extra walking. My Mom and I are taking my girls in December and they will be 4 and two weeks shy of 7 when we visit. We drive from SC so we could bring the strollers but I'm wondering at what point your kids could go without? Of course at home neither has been near a stroller in years!

 

[XYSRUS]

Take the strollers. You won't need them on days 1 and 2. 3rd day they're going to save everyone.

 

[RMulieri]

We never did one.Our first trip was last year when DD was 4 yrs old. We started a family walking program 6 months before our trip, and she managed to do the parks all 5 days with not a whine or a complaint.Most days she outpaced and outlasted Dh and I

 

[Keri]

My DD was 4 last year & rode in the stroller A LOT. My DS was 5.5 and we even rented one for him for the AK day because he was exhausted after walking so much all week. I'd take them, if I were you. You can always just move them around some stroller parking areas for the park part -- I'd guess your younger child will want them some then too though. It's a LOT of walking.

 

[WantToGoNow]

This is supposed to be my 1st trip without them - ds is 8 and dd will turn 6 right after we return. That said, I'm not sure dd5 will make it - and maybe not even ds8. Ds has low stamina due to his chronic asthma problems - his energy seems to come in bursts. That said, he is a big 8 y/o - he's 4'5" and 84 lbs. The only strollers that hold him would be the park strollers. Dd5 has the energy but has just been through a tramatic injury and hospitalization and the infection in her bone just seems to be draining some of her energy (she's on 21 days of antibiotics now but may still end up with the PICC line before our trip). We took them trick-or-treating this Thursday (dd just got out of the hospital Wed night) and they only made it 45 minutes and wanted to go home. Dh said "if this is any indication, we will need the double stroller".

 

[Shoshana]

I'm trying to decide that too. My dd just turned six and she's a low energy kind of kid. We'll be there with my disabled mom who'll be in an electric scooter. I'm trying to decide if I should bring the MacLaren or rent a stroller if it's absolutely necessary. I want to encourage the walking and am afraid if I bring the stroller I won't be able to keep her out of it!

 

[krcit]

I miss the stroller days because it was a great place to store all our junk My ds was 3 when we went so we got a double stroller and my 6 and 9 year old fought to sit in it too, lol.

 

[crash2000]

we didn't use one and duaghter was 6, only had to carry her the one night as we stayed for the fireworks show, she fell asleep before that, we walked everywhere, and spend a good 10hrs a day at each park, the trip was for her, so we went at her pace, when she wanted to rest, we rested..

BUT it really is upto your kids style of things do they enjoy walking, can they be carried at the end of the day if needed? every family is different.

 

[GoofyFairie]

Our kids were the exact same ages as yours when we did our first trip. We did not use a stroller at all. Save your money.

 

[mommyarewegoingback]

My DS stopped using a stroller at MK, HS & AK at 6, but needed it at Epcot until 7. My DD at 5 will probably not use one at MK and HS this trip. But probably yes at AK and Epcot. We really appreciated having them when our ADRs were on the otherside of the park or after wishes/illuminations. They both stopped using strollers non Disney at 2.5/3. Do what's best for your kids, don't let what you think others may think stop you.
-Virginia

 

[james'mommy]

DS stopped using the stroller at 5. Ireally miss it since it was a great place to put the backpack while we went on rides and were walking around. Now I get all sweaty from carrying the pack.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

My dd is 6..our last trip in Jan she was 5 and we still needed it..she's agood little walker, but I have noticed lots of people don't watch out for small kids. She is very small...not short, but petite and she gets jostled!! Also, the ECV things, people dont seem to watch for kids most of the time..so I just feel better for her to be in that stroller. BUT...the price was so high, I am gonna try to see how long we can get by without one this trip. I will just watch her extra closely....It'll will be easier getting on rides without having to park it every time for sure!!!

 

[peemagg]

If your kids didn't have health problems I would try going without, but since they do I would rent one. I would look for some from outside sources other than Disney. They would be cheaper in price and I believe you can get one that holds bigger kids better. It may be a special needs type stroller, but who cares if the child can rest comfortably when needed. By the way a lot of the special needs strollers look like regular strollers, so no one but you is going to know.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

When our boys were 5 and 18m, we used a sit-n-stand stroller and our 5-yr-old hopped quite a few rides on the back. On our next trip, when they were 6 and 2.5, we only took a single stroller and the oldest walked the whole time. On our last trip, our youngest was just over 3 and he did quite a bit of walking. I'm thinking he'll be done with the stroller by 5. He hates being still!

 

[Hannathy]

Didn't take one past 4, and at 4 was out of it more than in.

 

[jpaxton1118]

We did not take one when our daughter was 4. I know it is a lot of walking but you are stopping a lot also for the rides or shows. My daughter did get tired but she was fine most of the time.

 

[sharibrat]

Our children are 3 1/2 and 6 1/2. We just had this discussion last evening. We were really hoping to do this trip with just the umbrella stroller and have them take turns if the 6 1/2 gets tired from time to time. She barely fits into it, but it would still give her a break LOL!

Well, our daugther, the 6 1/2 has never been much of a walker. She complains and whines and it isn't much fun for anybody. THe times you need the stroller the most are at the end of the night when they are exhausted to get from your last ride/attraction to the park entrance, and then from their to your transportation and then from their to your room (sometimes they are practically passing out by then!). No way, we could carry her then, or deal with the whining!

Also, another poster had a great point. It's one thing at MK where we practically just run from attraction to attraction in Fantasyland. There, the stroller might sit half the day. But Epcot is a LOT of walking. Even Hollywood studios.....she might be interesting in the Ariel show, but then it's quite a long walk to the next thing she might be interested in.

So, it looks like yet another year of hubby schlepping that big stroller on and off the bus. But I think it's worth it to keep the kids happy We sold our double, she barely fit in the back of it anymore! So we'll be using our sit and stand. No, it doesn't offer a lot of room up front for the 3 year old, and taking a nap would not be too comfortable, but they can both get off their feet! And there sure is something to having a place for all your stuff. With our youngest, we still need to cart around extra outfit, snacks, wipes. etc. WIth the umbrella stroller......you all know, it would just tip over constantly with bags hanging on the back!

So, I think we've made our decision..........it really is a lot of walking! Aren't the adults feet tired at the end of the days? Imagine their little feet and legs!

 

[RMulieri]

It is hard on anyones legs. In our case we made it a simple expectation that our 4 yr old would walk, or we would not go on the trip ( harsh I know).But I know what she is capable of and I knew she would be fine..We did the family walking plan 6 months out and it WORKED.We reminded her that we would take breaks as needed, but she was expected to walk. We had no issues at all.Not saying that it is appropriate in everyones case, and it was easier since we only had her to deal with and not other aged children. But it truly was a blessing .There is plenty of rest time on rides and shows, and we made sure to stop for lunch and dinner and take snack breaks too.

 

[dizneechic]

Well since your driving I would bring the strollers and if they never leave your car then so be it! This way you wont be wishing you had them, and you can save the money of renting if you end up needing them towards the end of your trip.

 

[happymommy]

Well since your driving I would bring the strollers and if they never leave your car then so be it! This way you wont be wishing you had them, and you can save the money of renting if you end up needing them towards the end of your trip.

What she said!


I took a single one for the last time when my kids were 7 and 9. Was I glad I had it! As luck would have it, both my kids ended up getting sick one day each on the trip (and I was there without my husband the whole week, with a girlfriend and her kids). One afternoon, we were in DHS, my DD fell asleep in the stroller, I felt her forehead, she is burning up! I told my friend I'd take my kids back to the hotel (we were at the Dolphin) so luckily I just wheeled her onto the boat, wheeled her all the way to the room, so she didn't have to walk. Got her tylenol, called East Coast Medical, the doctor made the housecall (best service in the world and my HMO paid it all), and she had strep throat! Got her started on the antibiotics and in the morning she was already feeling better and no fever.

If I hadn't had that stroller, I would have been so out of luck. I'm sure Disney could have helped some way in getting my kids back to the hotel, but she couldn't have walked (she also got sick to her stomach in the room, typical for her when she's got strep).

So, I would take it, you never know! If you're driving anyway, definitely! When we drove our kids were 2 and 4, and we took the big Peg Perego double stroller, they napped in it every day. I had our van loaded down! Of course we were gone for almost 2 weeks and had a villa at the Boardwalk, so we took pantry food and stuff too.

Oh, also the year my DD turned 8 I ended up needing to rent one a couple of days. She gets tired, and she actually fell asleep in it a few times. Those rentals are expensive!